Fenty and Council Sworn In

WASHINGTON - Adrian Fenty has been sworn in as D.C.'s mayor, officially assuming his duties at noon Tuesday.

Fenty had been scheduled to take the oath of office in a public ceremony Tuesday along with seven City Council members. Out of respect for the funeral of former President Gerald Ford, Fenty moved the public event to Wednesday morning. Because D.C. law requires the mayor to be sworn in before taking office Tuesday's ceremony was mandatory.

In the sixth floor courtroom of the D.C. Court of Appeals, the highest court in the city, Chief Judge Eric T. Washington administered the oath of office to Adrian Fenty at 8:25 a.m. Tuesday. Washington congratulated Fenty after swearing him in and wished him "good luck."

Fenty's wife, Michelle, his parents and Michelle's mother attended the swearing-in which Fenty sought to close to the public. After several media outlets, including WTOP, complained, Fenty allowed reporters to attend the event without cameras or recording devices. Government cameras did record the event.

Re-elected and new City Council members also took the oath of office. Council members Jim Graham, David Catania and Phil Mendelson all won re-election bids. Vince Gray has been sworn in as the new Chair of the City Council. New to the Council are Tommy Wells, Mary Cheh and Harry Thomas, Jr.

Thomas won the Ward 5 seat that his father had held years ago. Prior to the swearing in, Thomas attended a prayer service at his father's grave side along with about 40 friends and family. He came to the swearing in bearing gifts, presenting Fenty and each member with a small glass cube with a scene of the Last Supper etched inside of it. Thomas had by far the largest entourage at the ceremony. About 20 people followed him into the courtroom as he arrived late for the event. Catania turned out to be the only Council member to arrive alone for the ceremony.

During the ceremony, Fenty and the each Council member placed a hand on the Bible to take the oath. Council members Catania, Wells, Cheh and Graham used a Bible brought by Mendelson. His was given to him by his father.

Mayoral Orders

When Fenty officially takes over, he will sign five mayoral orders Tuesday. Four of them -- the appointments of the city's police chief, fire chief and transportation director, city adminstrator -- are critical to the day-to-day operations of the city government. Their appointments are necessary to carry out responsibilities related to the presidential funeral.

Fenty also will appoint his Director of the Office of Personnel so that he can begin hiring his staff.

After attending Ford's funeral, Fenty will get his first Homeland Security briefing from the regional office of the Department of Homeland Security.

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)